Racial Tolerance

In the very first chapter of the book, Reynolds introduces the terms segregationist, assimilationist, and antiracist as classifications that will be used to "describe people in this book," and "describe all of us" (4). He gives anecdotal definitions of each classification first, to be followed by extensive examples through actions and people throughout the text. Segregationists are "haters," assimilationists are people who "'like' you, because you're like them" and antiracists are people who "love you because you're like you" (3, 4). He immediately invites the reader to get "excited about choosing your seat- the right seat- at the table" (3). Ultimately, to choose the antiracist seat. Since "life can rarely be wrapped into single-word descriptions," however, Reynolds presents these terms as a fluid spectrum rather than rigid classifications (4). This will be important as the reader delves further into the underlying motives behind some of history's most respected characters, and begins to...